Welcome, and Jeremiah 31:12

We are new gardeners, having moved from the city and purchased a home in the country that already has a number of beautiful garden beds. There are hundreds of types of flowers, plants and trees, and we are so excited to be identifying them, caring for them, and improving wherever we can. We are now their caretakers, and take the responsibility seriously! The purpose of this blog is to journal and document what grows and blooms each week, as well as to seek other gardeners' expertise in identifying and caring for the plants and trees.

They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD--the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. - Jeremiah 31:12

This passage speaks of renewal, and, as C.S. Lewis writes: "...of woes mended, of winter passed and guilt forgiven." May we be "helps and heroes" to our gardens.

We've not yet been through a full year's cycle, so there are surprises awaiting us deep in the earth. We anticipate them!

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Mary's Toad Lilies

All summer the rock garden was full of Lily stalks that didn't bloom. I knew they were some kind of Lily due to the leaf structure. There must be 30-40 stalks. I've looked at them carefully numerous times, and last time I examined them I thought maybe Cala lilies, that would bloom later in the summer. Didn't happen. I saw some budding on them a few weeks ago, and then forgot about them being so busy the last few weeks. It's been raining all day here, and I saw that the bird feeder we had wedged between some of the rocks in the rock garden fell. It's not a permanent solution, and it fell once before. We're going to have cement it or use a base pole to secure it for Spring. I went out to pick it up, and was greeted by lots and lots of blooming Toad Lilies! What a surprise. These inherited gardens keep constantly surprising me. I've been through a full year's cycle now, and thought I'd seen everything. I don't remember these last year at this time.

Autumn Wine

Having inherited several Sedum plants, I watched them with mild interest all summer. I was pleasantly surprised by the gorgeous display they have blessed us with this fall. They are autumn wine flowers. In August they were a light Chablis color, and then they deepened into a Rose, then a Merlot, and now turning a deep Burgundy. I've marveled at the variety of bees and butterflies that take great interest in them daily. It's like they are an oasis, or Port, where there are no boundaries between species - bumble bee is there drinking along with the honeybee, and all kinds of butterflies landing. I suppose everyone appreciates great wine. I know I have appreciated these Sedum. I do not know if they are "Autumn Joy", "Autumn Fire" or some other variety. Anyone know the best way to tell? They are on relatively short stalks. Here they are part of the front bed tapestry - Moondance Rose, Russian Sage, Butterfly Bush, and the Sedum.

Cornhusk Wreath

I made the cornhusk wreath featured on the Martha Stewart show last November. The steps involve dyeing the cornhusks (you can buy tamale cornhusks in your local grocery store), then separating them into strips while they are still damp, and pinning them to a straw wreath. Finish it with a thick satin ribbon. I chose apple green dye, so I can have it on the front door year-round. Closeup of the ribbon: I'm so happy with the results. To make your own, here is a link to the directions .

A Well-Watered Garden

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